BENGALURU: Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda on Thursday named six-time legislator H.K. Kumaraswamy as the party’s new state president. The move is part of an effort to rebuild the party after its dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections.

Kumaraswamy, who represents Scheduled Castes, was made in-charge of the Vokkaliga-backed party, as it faces an existential threat with the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) breathing down its neck.

The JD(S) also named former legislator Madhu Bangarappa as its working president. Chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil was named the leader of JD(S)’s youth wing.

Nikhil’s elevation coincides with that of Udhayanidhi Stalin, the actor son of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M.K. Stalin. Udhayanidhi was made the head of the youth wing of DMK.

“At 11am today I got a call from party leaders and I didn’t expect this at all. I had said a few days ago in Malavalli that if I work as a diligent party member, only then should I be given any post," Nikhil said in Bengaluru.

His appointment will help retain some balance as the Gowda household witnesses a battle for dominance between Kumaraswamy and his brother H.D. Revanna.

Revanna’s son Prajwal was the sole winner for the JD(S) in the Karnataka Lok Sabha polls.

Prajwal, who congratulated the new president and other office bearers, said in Delhi that he was not aware of Nikhil’s appointment, indicating that all was not well within the family.

However, the JD(S) have bigger problems, especially with its alliance with the Congress perpetually in trouble, mostly emanating from within the latter’s ranks.